Vol. XXXI, N° 62, semestre julio-diciembre 2008 | Hugo Ñopo, Miguel Robles, Jaime Saavedra
This paper evaluates the impact of ProJoven, a Peruvian youth labor training program, on gender equality in the labor market. ProJoven provides basic three-month training and internship opportunities, promoting gender equality by encouraging female participation in traditionally male-dominated occupations and subsidizing mothers with children. The evaluation uses a two-stage matching procedure, including propensity scores and gender and labor income, to identify differentiated impacts on men and women. The results show significant differences in the program's effects on men and women. Eighteen months after participation, women's employment rates increased by about 15%, while men's employment rates decreased by 11%. Gender occupational segregation decreased by 30%, and women's labor income increased by 93%, compared to a 11% increase for men. The cost of promoting gender equality was only 1.5% of ProJoven's total budget. These findings suggest that labor training programs promoting gender equality have disproportionately positive effects on women in a labor market with significant gender differences.This paper evaluates the impact of ProJoven, a Peruvian youth labor training program, on gender equality in the labor market. ProJoven provides basic three-month training and internship opportunities, promoting gender equality by encouraging female participation in traditionally male-dominated occupations and subsidizing mothers with children. The evaluation uses a two-stage matching procedure, including propensity scores and gender and labor income, to identify differentiated impacts on men and women. The results show significant differences in the program's effects on men and women. Eighteen months after participation, women's employment rates increased by about 15%, while men's employment rates decreased by 11%. Gender occupational segregation decreased by 30%, and women's labor income increased by 93%, compared to a 11% increase for men. The cost of promoting gender equality was only 1.5% of ProJoven's total budget. These findings suggest that labor training programs promoting gender equality have disproportionately positive effects on women in a labor market with significant gender differences.